Microbiology test 1 chpt 1

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what is microbiology? list fields and occupations in microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microbes. microorganisms ( "living things" that are to small to be seen with the naked eye). They study every aspect of microbes their genetics their physiology how they interact with each other, harmful or beneficial characteristics. occupations include bacteriology, mycology, and virology.

what does it mean that microbes are nearly ubiquitous

It means they’re everywhere.

What is a microbe? List different types of microbes and the properties of each. Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Which type appeared on Earth first? Compare cellular and acellular microbes. Explain why some microbes are not technically considered “living.”

A microbe is a microscopic organism that includes bacteria (prokaryotic), archaea (prokaryotic), fungi, protists (such as amoebas and algae, both eukaryotic), helminths (worms, eukaryotic), viruses, and prions (acellular). Prokaryotic cells appeared first on Earth. Cellular microbes contain cells, while acellular microbes (like viruses) lack cellular structure and cannot replicate independently, hence are not considered living

Describe the various roles that microbes play in the environment. Describe how humans use microbes.

Microbes play essential roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and maintaining ecosystem balance. Humans use microbes in fermentation (yeast, bread, alcohol) biotechnology (manipulating microorganisms to make products in an industrial setting like using algae to extract biodiesel oil to be used in petroleum products), and as model organisms for research. They also contribute to soil fertility and are involved in bioremediation to clean up pollutants (oil spills, pesticides) (pg 10 and 11 in book)

What are pathogens? Are all microbes pathogenic? Explain the effects of infectious disease on human populations. Which group of humans tend to suffer most from infectious diseases? Why?

Pathogens are organisms that cause disease- or disease-causing agents, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. While some microbes are pathogenic, many are harmless or beneficial; infectious diseases can significantly impact human health, leading to high mortality rates, especially in low-income populations with limited healthcare access, sanitation, and proper nutrition, and underimmunization

What does it mean for a disease to be eradicated? Name the only human disease that has been eradicated. Why haven’t other diseases been eradicated?

A disease being eradicated means that there are no cases of disease occurring anywhere. The only human disease to be eradicated was smallpox. Other diseases haven’t been eradicated due to the increase of anti-vaccination and limited accessibility in other low income countries, which hinder global vaccination efforts.

Describe how science is a process rather than a list of facts. Describe two types of scientific reasoning.

Science is a process it is a way of thinking about things. It involves the scientific method rather than just a collection of facts. Two types of scientific reasoning are deductive reasoning, which involves drawing specific conclusions from general principles, and inductive reasoning, which involves applying specific observations to develop a general explanation. An example would be the observation of a family in which several members have blue eyes, leading to a general conclusion about the inheritance of eye color in that family.

. Describe the idea of spontaneous generation (abiogenesis). Describe the experiments that refuted this idea. What is aseptic technique? Why is it important?

Abiogenesis is the idea that living things were created from non living things or decomposing matter. Two experiments that refuted this idea

Francesco Reddi-performed experiments with meat and fly larvae using 3 jars. One was left open, one was sealed and one was covered with gauze. The open jar developed maggots because flies could reach the meat and lay eggs. The sealed jar had no maggots because the smell was blocked and flies could not enter, The gauze jar allowed air in but blocked flies; maggots appeared on the gauze where the flies laid eggs not on the meat. This refuted abiogenesis by showing that maggots came from preexisting flies not from the meat itself

Louis Pasteur conducted experiments using swan-neck flasks containing broth, demonstrating that microbes only appeared when preexisting microorganisms were able to enter the broth showing that living cells came from preexisting living cells. Vigorous heat was applied to the flaks killing any microbes and making them sterile. One flask had the neck broken off at the top allowing bacteria/microorganisms to enter from the environment causing microbial growth. The neck of the second flask remained intact and no growth occurred

Aseptic technique is a set of practices used to reduce the number of pathogens/unwanted microbes (devolped in the 1800’s), crucial for ensuring valid results and preventing the spread of pathogens. Ignaz Semmelweis and Joseph lister can be given credit for his aseptic techniques aimed at reducing microbes in a medical setting and preventing wound infections by washing hands (Ignaz semmelwies) and disinfecting the air with antiseptic chemicals such as phenol (Joseph lister) this is due to there discovery of high maternal deaths and patient deaths during childbirth and infections arising after surgery

List the major developments in the discovery of microbiology

The father of microbiology -Antoine Lee Leeuwenhoek (1600’s)- A Dutch linen merchant who in creating his microscope first discovered and documented microorganisms/microbes his descriptions of bacteria and protozoa (animalcules) were precise and accurate

Louis Pastour refuted the theory of abiogenesis and developed two vaccines (rabies, anthrax) and completed some of the first studies showing that human diseases can arise from infection contributing and supporting the development of the germ theory of disease

The father of vaccination- Edward Jenner (1700’s)- Jenner noticed that milkmaids who contracted cowpox did not seem to develop smallpox. He hypothesized that cowpox protected against milkpox. Jenner inoculated (purposeful injection of a microbe) a young boy with material from a milkmaid’s cowpox lesion. After the boy recovered Jenner later exposed him to smallpox and the boy did not develop the disease. This demonstrated that exposure to cowpox could prevent immunity against smallpox and led to the development of vaccination.

Father of bacteriology- Robert Koch(1800’s) clearly linked a microscopic organism with a specific disease He studied anthrax and showed it was caused by a bacterium bacillus anthracis. He also developed Koch’s postulated, a set of steps used to determine whether a particular microorganism causes a particular disease using these methods Koch and his students identified the causative agents of many diseases, establishing a foundation for microbiology as a science.

What is the germ theory of disease

The germ theory of disease states that specific microorganisms/microbes are the cause of specific diseases. This theory was developed through the work of scientists like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, who demonstrated the relationship between germs and infectious diseases. They proved not only that microorganisms caused diseases but which microorganisms cause specific diseases

What is taxonomy? How do the Whittaker and Woese-Fox classification systems differ? What is the basis for this difference? List the taxonomic levels of the Woese Fox system. What is the role of evolution in the development of biological classification systems?

Taxonomy is the formal system for organizing, classifying, and naming living things. The Whittaker classification system is based on five kingdoms, including Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia, while the Woese-Fox system introduces three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, differentiating organisms on the basis of genetic and evolutionary relationships. This fundamental difference lies in the recognition of genetic diversity and evolutionary history among organisms.

How is an organism’s scientific name written?

An organism's scientific name is written in binomial nomenclature, consisting of two parts: the genus name, which is capitalized, and the species name, which is lowercase. Both names are italicized or underlined to signify their Latin origin. Genus species.ex: Homo sapiens or H.sapiens